Nightmare Kart

"Nightmare Kart" is a racing game that thrusts you into the role of a beast hunter in a nightmarish, gothic-inspired world. Compete in a dangerous tournament, racing on unique copper and steam vehicles while battling opponents and beasts to boost your speed. Uncover the secrets behind this twisted dream by defeating challenging bosses and unlocking new vehicles and abilities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,945 reviews

graphics89 positive mentions

stability22 negative mentions

graphics
255 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of classic low-poly visuals and CRT effects. Many reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in the art style, which complements the gothic themes and enhances the overall experience, although some note that the visuals can occasionally be cluttered or difficult to read. Overall, the game's graphics evoke a strong sense of nostalgia while providing a unique twist on the kart racing genre.
- “A truly amazing kart racer with awesome music, great visuals, good humor, and a ridiculous amount of charm.”
- “The graphics gave me a huge nostalgia hit, reminding me of playing Mario Kart on the DS or the Wii.”
- “The game nails the PS1 aesthetic, possibly even a little too much, so if you grew up in the era, it will feel right at home.”
- “The PS1 graphics evoke nostalgia, but instead of designing the game with the hardware limitations in mind, it feels like the dev just made it ugly and called it retro.”
- “The graphics are messy, sloppy, and difficult to read, serving as an example that good PS1-styled graphics are not easy to make.”
- “The game is really good; sadly, the graphics aren't it for me.”
music
232 mentions
56 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in this kart racing game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some noted that the upbeat tunes contrast with the game's darker gothic aesthetic, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, often describing it as "bangers" and a highlight of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is celebrated for its quality and ability to evoke nostalgia, making it a memorable aspect of the gameplay.
- “The music is awesome, the gameplay is fun, and overall feels like a nostalgic racing game with an interesting story.”
- “The soundtrack is really well-done, map design is very good as well.”
- “The music is a really whacky upbeat racing track that reminds you of Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing.”
- “In particular, the controls are not very good, the music is random and totally out of place, the sound effects are ripped from Mario Kart, and all the modes alternative to racing are just not fun.”
- “And the music does not fit the atmosphere and tone at all.”
- “Its dark souls theme does not pair well with its upbeat Mario Kart-like racing music.”
gameplay
210 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this kart racing game has been widely praised for its innovative mechanics, blending familiar elements from classic titles like Mario Kart with unique features such as collecting speed boosts by defeating enemies on the track. Players appreciate the retro PS1 aesthetic, engaging combat mechanics, and the overall fun and chaotic experience, although some have noted issues with AI difficulty and occasional jankiness. Overall, the game offers a refreshing take on the genre, combining nostalgic visuals with modern gameplay depth and variety.
- “The gameplay is fun and innovative for a kart racer, and the combination of gothic aesthetics with a PS1 style creates a stylish and nostalgic mix.”
- “The mechanics are fun, the items are satisfying to bash your enemies with, and the karts look very original.”
- “The gameplay itself is a wonderful kart battler we've all been wishing for for years.”
- “But to expect progression in a campaign mode, with this gameplay identity confusion between racing and combat, and being railed against the wall by merciless AI is an ask too far.”
- “The control mechanics are not up to the standards of modern kart racing games.”
- “There were quite a few stages in the single player that felt annoying because of the dependence on item RNG, and some stages felt impossible to gain an advantage on because they don't give you any opportunities to use the game's unique aether vial mechanics, which is a huge missed opportunity.”
story
95 mentions
40 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story mode is a surprising highlight, offering a short but engaging narrative that creatively incorporates elements from Bloodborne, complete with unique boss fights and various gameplay modes. While some players found the story to be a bit convoluted or lacking depth, many appreciated its nostalgic charm, humor, and the overall fun experience it provides, making it a worthwhile addition to the racing genre. Despite its brevity, the campaign is praised for its replayability and the enjoyable mix of racing and battle mechanics.
- “The game has a fantastic story mode to unlock everything through with unique boss fights and a taste of all the different stages and game modes.”
- “The story mode is a ton of fun, and the local co-op is great.”
- “The presentation of the world through the story mode is really well done, and I'm sure I'd appreciate it more if I'd actually played Bloodborne before this, but it's a blast either way.”
- “The story in comparison to Bloodborne is watered down and summarized a lot, with most of it skipped over and used as set-ups for the upcoming races and arena modes.”
- “The campaign mode does have very little story.”
- “While the story snippets you read at the start of every level with a JPEG in the background drag on kind of slowly.”
humor
82 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is widely praised for its clever parodies and hilarious cutscenes, particularly for fans of Bloodborne, as it transforms gothic horror themes into a chaotic kart racing experience. Players appreciate the over-the-top comedic elements, funny character designs, and amusing mechanics, which contribute to a light-hearted atmosphere that enhances the gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining homage that successfully blends humor with solid racing mechanics.
- “A hilarious spoof of a certain Victorian action horror game while also being just a solid kart racer in its own right.”
- “It's a hilariously faithful racer recreation of Bloodborne that's surely worth playing for anyone interested in either the PSX style or FromSoftware's games.”
- “An absolutely chaotic, gothic, and hilarious game to play with your friends.”
- “Not funny enough to justify taking up space on my hard drive.”
- “The humor fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the jokes were stale and unoriginal.”
stability
29 mentions
24 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized by a mix of charm and bugs, with players noting frequent glitches and janky physics that can disrupt gameplay, such as invisible walls and AI issues. While some users report no major crashes and find the experience enjoyable despite the bugs, others express frustration with specific levels and mechanics. Overall, the game runs well on various platforms, and while it has its share of issues, many players feel the fun outweighs the instability.
- “Done two races so far in story mode and this game runs great (100x better than Bloodborne) and I'm loving the unique twists it put on kart racing. The look of the maps, despite being PS1 graphics, is very detailed. Overall, 9/10.”
- “Despite any current bugs it may have, it runs great and is way more than I ever expected from a free game.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “Its a buggy mess; too often you will be crashing into walls due to the fact it's dark and thus hard to see what's up ahead, and there are also chances of getting stuck and having to reverse.”
- “Since some of the parts of the races are buggy, I think they should fix the races before adding new content, since it is tedious to go from first place to hitting an invisible wall and watching everyone pass you.”
- “The AI opponents can be buggy at times, but never enough to tarnish the infectiously charming experience of playing it.”
atmosphere
28 mentions
43 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a unique blend of gothic horror reminiscent of Bloodborne, enhanced by a quirky and upbeat soundtrack that contrasts with its dark visuals. Players appreciate the polished aesthetic, character designs, and the nostalgic PS1 vibe, which together create an engaging and humorous experience. Overall, the atmosphere is celebrated for its ability to evoke both tension and fun, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere, soundtrack, easter eggs, and gags in this make this a must play for any fan of wacky games, especially if they've played Bloodborne.”
- “Fantastic game with an incredible atmosphere, gameplay, and OST.”
- “From character designs to the haunting soundtrack, every element evokes the gothic horror atmosphere that made Bloodborne so captivating.”
- “And the music does not fit the atmosphere and tone at all.”
- “How do you make a game with such a gritty Victorian gothic atmosphere and give it a bouncy Crash Team Racing-esque soundtrack?!”
- “The game is a fun combination of racing and battles, and the music is bright and kart-like juxtaposed with the dark & gloomy Bloodborne atmosphere.”
replayability
13 mentions
46 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
Overall, "Nightmare Kart" is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of game modes, a campaign with unique boss fights, and a new game+ mechanic. While some users noted the absence of multiplayer options could limit replay value, the game's engaging gameplay and alternative endings contribute to its lasting appeal. Many reviewers highlight the fun factor and depth of replayability, especially considering it is a free title.
- “For everyone waiting for Bloodborne and Crash Team Racing/Mario Kart on PC, our wish has come true: Nightmare Kart - a masterpiece created with love and care offers fun and challenging gameplay with an almost endless replayability.”
- “This game is very fun to play and has a lot of replay value to it with the new game + mechanic.”
- “Absolutely perfect game with great replayability.”
- “This will probably be my game of the year despite the minimal replayability.”
- “No multiplayer means the replay value is pretty low though you can use remote play to still play though the added input delay can be felt.”
- “For a free game, there is a lot of replayability and you can definitely have a lot of fun with it by yourself or with friends as well.”
character development
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the character designs and concepts, noting their charm and how they contribute to the game's gothic horror atmosphere reminiscent of Bloodborne. However, there is a desire for more content and multiplayer support to enhance the overall experience.
- “The Bloodborne DNA is still there in the weapons and level designs and theming of things, but the swapped-around character designs are all really charming.”
- “I really love the character designs and concepts.”
- “I really love the character designs and concepts, but I do wish there was multiplayer support outside of the remote play and would really love to see this game get more possible content or something in the future.”
- “The bloodborne DNA is still there in the weapons and level designs and theming of things, but the swapped around character designs are all really charming.”
- “From character designs to the haunting soundtrack, every element evokes the gothic horror atmosphere that made Bloodborne so captivating.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its nostalgic visuals that evoke childhood memories and even lead to tears of joy. Despite some gameplay mechanics feeling off, the overall immersion and emotional impact resonate deeply, making players feel like kids again.
- “This game was so good, it made me cry.”
- “Great work devs, you made me feel like a kid again :)”
- “Psx visuals are very well implemented and made me feel incredibly nostalgic.”
grinding
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players express that grinding in the game can be excessively time-consuming, with some suggesting it feels like a second job. Additionally, frustrations arise from buggy race mechanics that can hinder progress, making the experience feel tedious despite the overall enjoyment of the racing itself.
- “Just to clarify, this game is not like those games - it rekindles that fantastic battle racing feeling in a whole new way and it feels good to race, not slow, not tedious, just mmf.”
- “Since some of the parts of the races are buggy, I think they should fix the races before adding new content, as it is tedious to go in first place and then hit an invisible wall and watch everyone pass you.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
monetization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Nightmare Kart is a free-to-play racing game with no microtransactions, which users appreciate as a refreshing approach in the gaming market. However, there are concerns about potential legal issues and missed opportunities for monetization, particularly regarding the intellectual property involved. Overall, players are excited about the game but recognize the complexities surrounding its development and marketing.
- “Nightmare Kart is a racing game in the style of Mario Kart, with a Bloodborne theme. It's free-to-play with no microtransactions.”
- “Just amazing! I hope to see a multiplayer mode at some point, but I understand if it's a bit too hard to add, especially with the issues of the IP and monetization.”
- “Just amazing, hope to see a multiplayer at some point, but understandable if it's a bit too hard to add, especially with the issues of the IP and monetization.”
- “After all, we all know the only gore-drenched 1750's styled top-hat they have in this race is the legal stranglehold they keep on their precious IP even though they continue to do literally nothing with it outside of throwing their weight around for what is basically free advertising of your product that makes zero money for said advertiser promoting your game for you.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game boasts a compact download size of a few hundred megabytes while delivering excellent performance, even during remote gameplay. However, the AI requires significant improvement, as enemies often exhibit poor behavior, and the repetitive power-ups and limited game modes detract from replayability. Overall, the optimization is commendable, especially in contrast to larger AAA titles, but gameplay elements need refinement.
- “The download size of a couple hundred megabytes is nice, and the performance is excellent even over remote gameplay.”
- “It's an important reminder of how much fun you can pack into 290 megabytes, especially now that some AAA titles are getting out of hand with 90 to even a whopping 300 gigabytes of wasted and unoptimized space.”
- “The AI needs improvement; even at higher difficulty levels, the performance of the enemies is lackluster. Sometimes they crash against a wall or a fence and stay there for the entire race. Additionally, the power-ups are repetitive and more game modes are needed; otherwise, there is no reason to play this game twice.”
- “It's an important reminder of how much fun can be packed into 290 megabytes, especially now that some AAA games are bloating to 90 or even a whopping 300 gigabytes of wasted and unoptimized space.”